YOGA MAT HAVlNG A PATTERN THEREIN

ABSTRACT

A yoga mat includes a foam layer having an elastic property, a tensile-strained layer having high tensile strength, a first adhesive layer adhering the bottom surface of the tensile-strained layer to the foam layer and distributed in the whole area between the foam layer and the tensile-strained layer, a second adhesive layer covering the whole area of the top surface of the tensile-strained layer, a light-transmissive protective layer adhered to the second adhesive layer, and a pattern layer attached to one of the second adhesive layer and the light-transmissive protective layer and set between the second adhesive layer and the light-transmissive protective layer. Thus, the yoga mat has the characteristics of simple structure, low manufacturing cost, high sense of beauty and high value.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to gymnastic mats, and more particularly, to a yoga mat having a pattern therein.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventional yoga mats or athletic mats, mostly single color, do not have a beautiful effect.

Taiwan Patent 200817066, entitled “Exercise mat”, discloses an exercise mat having a sandwiched layer. According to this design, a first plastic film, a pattern and a second plastic film are arranged above two foam layers, keeping the pattern sandwiched between the first and second plastic films and visible from the outside.

However, the aforesaid prior art exercise mat has a complicated structure with the use of two foam layers, not only making the fabrication difficult but also increasing the cost. Further, this design of exercise mat has high ductility because it does not provide any non-ductile material between the two foam layers, making the hand-feel too soft and resulting in poor user experience. Although this prior art exercise mat has a mesh layer (or fabric layer) set between the two foam layers to provide the exercise mat with an elastic restoring force. However, the arranging this mesh layer in between the two foam layers increases the manufacturing steps, i.e., complicates the manufacturing. Further, the first plastic film is a thin film bonded to the second foam layer. During fabrication, a step of aligning the first plastic film with the second foam layer and a hot pressing step must be performed. Although the aforesaid prior art exercise mat design of Taiwan Patent Publication 200817066 teaches a measure of providing a pattern in the mat, however, it has a complicated structure and high manufacturing cost. There is still a room for improvement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a yoga mat having a pattern therein, which has the characteristics of simple structure and low manufacturing cost.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a yoga mat of the present invention comprises a foam layer having an elastic property, a tensile-strained layer having high tensile strength, a first adhesive layer adhering the bottom surface of the tensile-strained layer to the foam layer and distributed in the whole area between the foam layer and the tensile-strained layer, a second adhesive layer covering the whole area of the top surface of the tensile-strained layer, a light-transmissive protective layer adhered to the second adhesive layer, and a pattern layer attached to one of the second adhesive layer and the light-transmissive protective layer and set between the second adhesive layer and the light-transmissive protective layer.

The effects of the present invention: In the foam layer arrangement, structure of the present invention is more simple than the prior art; the second adhesive layer in accordance with the present invention is coated on the tensile-strained layer and then cured, eliminating the alignment problem of the prior art design, and therefore this installation method is more simple and convenient than the prior art design. On the whole, the manufacturing cost of the present invention can be much lower than the prior art design.

Other and further benefits, advantages and features of the present invention will be understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters denote like elements of structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a yoga mat in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the yoga mat in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an oblique top elevational view of the yoga mat in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an oblique top elevational view of an alternate form of the yoga mat in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an alternate form of the yoga mat in accordance with the present invention, illustrating the light-transmissive protective layer is a cured sheet member carrying the pattern layer and its relationship with the other components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a yoga mat 10 in accordance with the present invention, is shown. The yoga mat 10 comprises a foam layer 11, a tensile-strained layer 16, a first adhesive layer 18, a second adhesive layer 21, a pattern layer 26, and a light-transmissive protective layer 31.

The foam layer 11 is selected from the material group of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), polyurethane (PU) synthetic rubber, natural rubber (NR), polyvinyl chloride polymer (PVC), polyethylene (PE), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), thermoplastic rubber (TPR), thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer (TPO), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), styrene ethylene butylene styrene (SEBS), nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), ethylene propylene diene monomer (M-class) rubber (EPDM), polyvinyl butyral resin (PVB) and latex. In this embodiment, the foam layer 11 is made of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

The tensile-strained layer 16 has high tensile strength. Further, the tensile-strained layer 16 has a bottom surface thereof bonded to the foam layer 11 by the first adhesive layer 18. The first adhesive layer 18 is distributed in the whole area between the foam layer 11 and the tensile-strained layer 16. The tensile-strained layer 16 can be selected from the material group of cloth fabric, plastic fiber fabric, plastic film and paper. In this embodiment, the tensile-strained layer 16 is made of cloth fabric.

The second adhesive layer 21 is formed by coating a glue-like substance on the whole area of an opposing top surface of the tensile-strained layer 16 and then heating it into a semi-cured state. In this embodiment, the second adhesive layer 21 and the first adhesive layer 18 are of the same material. However, the second adhesive layer 21 and the first adhesive layer 18 can also be made of different materials. Further, in this embodiment, the second adhesive layer 21 fits perfectly on the tensile-strained layer 16. Actually, the second adhesive layer 21 can be controlled in a very thin condition during application, enabling the surface fiber lines of the tensile-strained layer 16 to be shown on the second adhesive layer 21.

The pattern layer 26 is covered on the second adhesive layer 21 by hot transfer printing, cold transfer printing, transfer printing or movable printing. In this embodiment, hot transfer printing is employed. The hot transfer printing here is to place a pattern-printed release paper on the second adhesive layer 21 and to heat the pattern-printed release paper slightly, and then to remove the release paper from the second adhesive layer 21, leaving the pattern on the second adhesive layer 21. The pattern layer 26 is formed of an ordinary ink. Further, by means of perfectly fitting the second adhesive layer 21 onto the tensile-strained layer 16, the pattern layer 26 on the second adhesive layer 21 is likely to fit on the tensile-strained layer 16 in the user's vision, offering good visual effects.

The light-transmissive protective layer 31 is adhered to the surface of the second adhesive layer 21 to cover the pattern layer 26, having a planar surface without any lines. Thus, the pattern layer 26 is sandwiched between the second adhesive layer 21 and the light-transmissive protective layer 31. The light-transmissive protective layer 31 can be made of polyurethane (PU), natural rubber, latex, silicon rubber or synthetic rubber. In this embodiment, the light-transmissive protective layer 31 is made of polyurethane (PU). Further, the light-transmissive protective layer 31 can be transparent or translucent. In this embodiment, the light-transmissive protective layer 31 can be transparent. Further, the light-transmissive protective layer 31 can be made by: coating the prepared material on the second adhesive layer 21 and the pattern layer 26 and then heat-curing the applied material.

As shown in FIG. 4, an anti-skid pattern 32 can be made on the surface of the light-transmissive protective layer 31 as desired. Because the light-transmissive protective layer 31 is made of polyurethane or natural rubber, it itself has a considerable anti-skid effect. The added arrangement of the anti-skid pattern 32 greatly enhances the anti-skid ability of the light-transmissive protective layer 31.

The above statement describes the architecture of the present of the present embodiment, the effect of the present embodiment will be outlined hereinafter.

Because the pattern layer 26 is arranged on the second adhesive layer 21, it is supported on the tensile-strained layer 16 but not a foam layer in the prior art design. Thus, the pattern layer 26 will not be easily damaged during application like the prior art design that causes the pattern layer to be easily damaged in the reciprocating process of stretching and retraction during application due to elasticity of the foam layers. Further, the pattern layer 26 is covered and protected by the light-transmissive protective layer 31, therefore, the pattern layer 26 will not be easily damaged under normal use. Thus, the design of the present invention avoids the pattern layer 26 from being easily damaged, i.e., the technique of the present invention reinforces the structure of the pattern layer 26.

Further, the design of the pattern layer 26 is visible by the user through the light-transmissive protective layer 31, enhancing the sense of beauty and value of the product.

The invention simply needs on single layer of the foam layer 11, and has the tensile-strained layer 16 arranged on the top side of the foam layer 11. When compared to the structure and technique of the prior art design to have a mesh layer be sandwiched in between two foam layers, the structure and fabrication of the present invention are relatively simple. Further, if fabric is selected for the tensile-strained layer 16, both the first adhesive layer 18 and the second adhesive layer 21 can be embedded in the tensile-strained layer 16. After the first adhesive layer 18, the second adhesive layer 21 and the tensile-strained layer 16 are bonded together, the overall strength will be better than the prior art design. Further, the second adhesive layer 21 is coated on the tensile-strained layer 16 and then cured, eliminating the alignment problem of the prior art design. This installation method is more simple and convenient than the prior art design.

Further, because the structure and fabrication steps are more simple than the prior art technique, the manufacturing cost of the present invention can be much lower than the prior art design.

It is worth mentioning that the arrangement of the light-transmissive protective layer on the second adhesive layer can be alternatively achieved using the technique below, i.e., as illustrated in FIG. 5, the light-transmissive protective layer 31′ is a cured sheet member; the pattern layer 26′ is located on the bottom surface of the light-transmissive protective layer 31′; the second adhesive layer 21′ is sticky. The light-transmissive protective layer 31′ and the pattern layer 26′ are adhered to the second adhesive layer 21′. This alternate form can also create a structure having the pattern layer 26′ sandwiched between the second adhesive layer 21′ and the light-transmissive protective layer 31′, providing the expected effects of the present invention.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A yoga mat having a pattern therein, comprising: a foam layer having an elastic property; a tensile-strained defining opposing top and bottom surfaces; a first adhesive layer adhering the bottom surface of said tensile-strained layer to said foam layer, said first adhesive layer being distributed in the whole area between said foam layer and said tensile-strained layer; a second adhesive layer covering the whole area of the top surface of said tensile-strained layer; a light-transmissive protective layer adhered to said second adhesive layer; and a pattern layer attached to one of said second adhesive layer and said light-transmissive protective layer and set between said second adhesive layer and said light-transmissive protective layer.
 2. The yoga mat having a pattern therein as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pattern layer is formed of an ink.
 3. The yoga mat having a pattern therein as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light-transmissive protective layer is selected from the material group of polyurethane (PU), natural rubber, latex, silicon rubber and synthetic rubber.
 4. The yoga mat having a pattern therein as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pattern layer is formed on said second adhesive layer in a semi-cured state using one of the techniques of transfer printing, cold transfer printing, transfer printing and movable printing.
 5. The yoga mat having a pattern therein as claimed in claim 4, wherein said light-transmissive protective layer is formed by coating a predetermined material on said second adhesive layer and said pattern layer and then heat-curing the applied material.
 6. The yoga mat having a pattern therein as claimed in claim 4, wherein said second adhesive layer is being fitted to said tensile-strained layer, enabling said pattern layer to be likely to fit on said tensile-strained layer in the user's vision.
 7. The yoga mat having a pattern therein as claimed in claim 1, wherein said foam layer is selected from the material group of thermoplastic elastomer, polyurethane synthetic rubber, natural rubber, polyvinyl chloride polymer, polyethylene, styrene-butadiene rubber, thermoplastic rubber, thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer, thermoplastic polyurethane, styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene ethylene butylene styrene, nitrile-butadiene rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber, polyvinyl butyral resin and latex.
 8. The yoga mat having a pattern therein as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first adhesive layer and said second adhesive layer are glues of the same material.
 9. The yoga mat having a pattern therein as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light-transmissive protective layer is selectively made to provide a planar surface, or a surface with anti-skid pattern.
 10. The yoga mat having a pattern therein as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light-transmissive protective layer is a cured sheet member; said pattern layer is located on a bottom surface of said light-transmissive protective layer; said second adhesive layer is sticky; said light-transmissive protective layer is bonded with said pattern layer to said second adhesive layer.
 11. The yoga mat having a pattern therein as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tensile-strained layer is selected from the material group of cloth fabric, plastic fiber fabric, plastic film and paper.
 12. The yoga mat having a pattern therein as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tensile-strained layer is made of a fabric; said first adhesive layer and said second adhesive layer are embedded in said tensile-strained layer. 